Local Stories

Surviving The Pacific Crest Trail In Winter

KUNR Public Radio | By Anh Gray

Published March 18, 2015 at 7:00 AM PDT

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Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter visits Reno Public Radio. Photo by Alexa Ard.

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Shawn Forry with the specialized skis he used to get him through the trail in winter. Photo by Alexa Ard.

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The Cuben Fiber tarp that Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter slept in on their journey. It weighs less than one pound. Photo by Alexa Ard.

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The alcohol stove used by Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter for cooking and melting ice. Photo by Alexa Ard.

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Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter are ultra-light backpakers. Photo by Alexa Ard.

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Outside the KUNR studio, Justin Lichter (left) and Shawn Forry set-up a few items from their ultra-light backpacking trek through the Pacific Crest Trail in winter. Photo by Alexa Ard.

The Pacific Crest Trail runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, forcing hikers to navigate everything from desert to treacherous mountain passes coated in ice. It’s such a dangerous trip, no one has ever completed it in winter...until this month. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray sits down with Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter, who just finished their trek at the Mexican border.

FINAL_WEB_POST_GEAR_TALK.mp3

Outtake: Shawn Forry and Justin Lichter talks with Reno Public Radio's Anh Gray about the gear they used on their first successful attempt to complete the Pacific Crest Trail in winter.